Patents by Inventor Barbara Ekerdt

Barbara Ekerdt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11959045
    Abstract: The present invention is for an acidic cleaning composition which has excellent cleaning performance, low toxicity and good antimicrobial efficacy. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions are capable of sanitizing or disinfecting a variety of hard surfaces. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions can take a variety of forms, such as: disinfecting wipes, all-purpose disinfecting sprays, kitchen cleaners, bathroom cleaners, toilet cleaners, etc. The compositions may meet EPA DfE requirements, EPA category III or IV requirements, and/or be safe for use on food contact surfaces without rinsing. The compositions may include citric acid, an anionic surfactant, a non-volatile glycol solvent, a fatty acid, and water. The compositions may be free of other sanitizing acids, quaternary ammonium compounds, biguanides, peroxides, hypohalites, etc., and have a pH of less than 2.5. The composition may provide sanitization or disinfection against a target microbe within 5 minutes or less, or 4 minutes or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: THE CLOROX COMPANY
    Inventors: Xuanrong Guo, Barbara Ekerdt, David R. Scheuing, Nancy A. Falk
  • Patent number: 11890390
    Abstract: This invention relates to systems, methods, and disinfecting compositions for spraying onto surfaces to be sanitized or disinfected. Methods may include providing an aqueous hypohalite disinfecting composition, and providing a spraying system that may include a hand-held spray nozzle through which the composition is sprayed during use, and a pump and associated tubing for conveying the composition to the hand-held spray nozzle. The tubing may be specifically selected to exhibit at least a 65% recovery (no more than 35% loss) of hypohalite after 24 hours of contact between the composition and the tubing. The method may further include conveying the composition from the reservoir to the spray nozzle, and spraying the composition through the nozzle, e.g., onto the target surface. A related system may include similar components. A dilute hypohalite disinfecting composition may be provided for use with the system and/or method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: THE CLOROX COMPANY
    Inventors: Barbara Ekerdt, William L. Smith, John Glauber
  • Publication number: 20220062480
    Abstract: This invention relates to systems, methods, and disinfecting compositions for spraying onto surfaces to be sanitized or disinfected. Methods may include providing an aqueous hypohalite disinfecting composition, and providing a spraying system that may include a hand-held spray nozzle through which the composition is sprayed during use, and a pump and associated tubing for conveying the composition to the hand-held spray nozzle. The tubing may be specifically selected to exhibit at least a 65% recovery (no more than 35% loss) of hypohalite after 24 hours of contact between the composition and the tubing. The method may further include conveying the composition from the reservoir to the spray nozzle, and spraying the composition through the nozzle, e.g., onto the target surface. A related system may include similar components. A dilute hypohalite disinfecting composition may be provided for use with the system and/or method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Barbara Ekerdt, William L. Smith, John Glauber
  • Publication number: 20220056374
    Abstract: The present invention is for an acidic cleaning composition which has excellent cleaning performance, low toxicity and good antimicrobial efficacy. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions are capable of sanitizing or disinfecting a variety of hard surfaces. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions can take a variety of forms, such as: disinfecting wipes, all-purpose disinfecting sprays, kitchen cleaners, bathroom cleaners, toilet cleaners, etc. The compositions may meet EPA DfE requirements, EPA category III or IV requirements, and/or be safe for use on food contact surfaces without rinsing. The compositions may include citric acid, an anionic surfactant, a non-volatile glycol solvent, a fatty acid, and water. The compositions may be free of other sanitizing acids, quaternary ammonium compounds, biguanides, peroxides, hypohalites, etc., and have a pH of less than 2.5. The composition may provide sanitization or disinfection against a target microbe within 5 minutes or less, or 4 minutes or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Xuanrong GUO, Barbara EKERDT, David R. SCHEUING, Nancy A. FALK
  • Patent number: 11202844
    Abstract: This invention relates to systems, methods, and disinfecting compositions for spraying onto surfaces to be sanitized or disinfected. Methods may include providing an aqueous hypohalite disinfecting composition, and providing a spraying system that may include a hand-held spray nozzle through which the composition is sprayed during use, and a pump and associated tubing for conveying the composition to the hand-held spray nozzle. The tubing may be specifically selected to exhibit at least a 65% recovery (no more than 35% loss) of hypohalite after 24 hours of contact between the composition and the tubing. The method may further include conveying the composition from the reservoir to the spray nozzle, and spraying the composition through the nozzle, e.g., onto the target surface. A related system may include similar components. A dilute hypohalite disinfecting composition may be provided for use with the system and/or method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventors: Barbara Ekerdt, William L. Smith, John Glauber
  • Patent number: 11135329
    Abstract: This invention relates to systems, methods, and disinfecting compositions for spraying onto surfaces to be sanitized or disinfected. Methods may include providing an aqueous hypohalite disinfecting composition, and providing a spraying system that may include a hand-held spray nozzle through which the composition is sprayed during use, and a pump and associated tubing for conveying the composition to the hand-held spray nozzle. The tubing may be specifically selected to exhibit at least a 65% recovery (no more than 35% loss) of hypohalite after 24 hours of contact between the composition and the tubing. The method may further include conveying the composition from the reservoir to the spray nozzle, and spraying the composition through the nozzle, e.g., onto the target surface. A related system may include similar components. A dilute hypohalite disinfecting composition may be provided for use with the system and/or method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: THE CLOROX COMPANY
    Inventors: Barbara Ekerdt, William L. Smith, John Glauber
  • Patent number: 11027034
    Abstract: This invention relates to systems, methods, and disinfecting compositions for spraying onto surfaces to be sanitized or disinfected. Methods may include providing an aqueous hypohalite disinfecting composition, and providing a spraying system that may include a hand-held spray nozzle through which the composition is sprayed during use, and a pump and associated tubing for conveying the composition to the hand-held spray nozzle. The tubing may be specifically selected to exhibit at least a 65% recovery (no more than 35% loss) of hypohalite after 24 hours of contact between the composition and the tubing. The method may further include conveying the composition from the reservoir to the spray nozzle, and spraying the composition through the nozzle, e.g., onto the target surface. A related system may include similar components. A dilute hypohalite disinfecting composition may be provided for use with the system and/or method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: THE CLOROX COMPANY
    Inventors: Barbara Ekerdt, William L. Smith, John Glauber
  • Publication number: 20200230278
    Abstract: This invention relates to systems, methods, and disinfecting compositions for spraying onto surfaces to be sanitized or disinfected. Methods may include providing an aqueous hypohalite disinfecting composition, and providing a spraying system that may include a hand-held spray nozzle through which the composition is sprayed during use, and a pump and associated tubing for conveying the composition to the hand-held spray nozzle. The tubing may be specifically selected to exhibit at least a 65% recovery (no more than 35% loss) of hypohalite after 24 hours of contact between the composition and the tubing. The method may further include conveying the composition from the reservoir to the spray nozzle, and spraying the composition through the nozzle, e.g., onto the target surface. A related system may include similar components. A dilute hypohalite disinfecting composition may be provided for use with the system and/or method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Barbara Ekerdt, William L. Smith, John Glauber
  • Publication number: 20200230277
    Abstract: This invention relates to systems, methods, and disinfecting compositions for spraying onto surfaces to be sanitized or disinfected. Methods may include providing an aqueous hypohalite disinfecting composition, and providing a spraying system that may include a hand-held spray nozzle through which the composition is sprayed during use, and a pump and associated tubing for conveying the composition to the hand-held spray nozzle. The tubing may be specifically selected to exhibit at least a 65% recovery (no more than 35% loss) of hypohalite after 24 hours of contact between the composition and the tubing. The method may further include conveying the composition from the reservoir to the spray nozzle, and spraying the composition through the nozzle, e.g., onto the target surface. A related system may include similar components. A dilute hypohalite disinfecting composition may be provided for use with the system and/or method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Barbara Ekerdt, William L. Smith, John Glauber
  • Publication number: 20180339074
    Abstract: This invention relates to systems, methods, and disinfecting compositions for spraying onto surfaces to be sanitized or disinfected. Methods may include providing an aqueous hypohalite disinfecting composition, and providing a spraying system that may include a hand-held spray nozzle through which the composition is sprayed during use, and a pump and associated tubing for conveying the composition to the hand-held spray nozzle. The tubing may be specifically selected to exhibit at least a 65% recovery (no more than 35% loss) of hypohalite after 24 hours of contact between the composition and the tubing. The method may further include conveying the composition from the reservoir to the spray nozzle, and spraying the composition through the nozzle, e.g., onto the target surface. A related system may include similar components. A dilute hypohalite disinfecting composition may be provided for use with the system and/or method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: BARBARA EKERDT, WILLIAM L. SMITH, JOHN GLAUBER
  • Patent number: 8821899
    Abstract: The present invention includes compositions, methods, systems for the controlled delivery of an active agent within a polymeric network upon the binding of a molecule that decreases the structural integrity of the polymeric network at one or more micro- or nanovacuoles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Peppas, Barbara Ekerdt, Marta Gomez-Burgaz
  • Patent number: 8771713
    Abstract: The present invention includes compositions, methods, systems for the controlled delivery of an active agent in a tablet polymer comprising two or more layers, wherein each of the two or more layers comprises at least one active agent and at least one molecular recognition polymer, wherein the two or more layers are compressed into a single tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Peppas, Barbara Ekerdt, Marta Gomez-Burgaz
  • Publication number: 20090232858
    Abstract: The present invention includes compositions, methods, systems for the controlled delivery of an active agent in a tablet polymer comprising two or more layers, wherein each of the two or more layers comprises at least one active agent and at least one molecular recognition polymer, wherein the two or more layers are compressed into a single tablet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Peppas, Barbara Ekerdt, Marta Gomez-Burgaz